Trench



Aug 9, 1955 L. A. CRAWFORD 2,714,775

TRENCH FILLING MACHINE Filed-Aug. 5l, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ank BY )yaATTORNEY Aug. 9, 1955 l.. A. CRAWFORD TRENCH FILLING MACHINE 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 31, 1951 lNvENToR ATTORNEY Aug. 9, 1955 L. A.CRAWFORD 2,714,775

'FRENCH FILLING MACHINE Filed Aug. 5l, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 @fw/z, @W

We? //M ATTORNEY Aug 9, 1955 1 A. CRAWFORD 2,714,775

TRENCH FILLING MACHINE Filed Aug. 5l, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 @i M4 5w-'EV MW ATTORNEY United States Patent O TRENCH FILLING MACHINE Laurel A.Crawford, Deshler, Ohio Application August 31, 1951, Serial No. 244,543

3 Claims. (Cl. 37-144) This invention relates to earth moving andshifting a machine whereby the apparatus may follow the line of earth tob'e shifted without itself being shifted out of its A desired line ofprogress by the earth mass.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device, wherein theearth shifting part may be automatically controlled in its positionrelatively to the earths surface over which it is moved.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel mount for theearth mass contacting and shifting screw.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel control for thevarious functions of the apparatus.

And another object of this invention is to provide a hydraulicpositioning apparatus for the operating element including automaticcontrols in combination with manual controls for co-ordinating thefunctions of the machine.

Other objects and advantages of this invention relating to thearrangement, operation and function of the related elements of thestructure, to various details of constructing, to combinations of partsand to economies of manufacture, will be apparent to those skilled inthe art upon consideration of the following description and appendedclaims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a partof this specification wherein like reference characters designatecorresponding parts in the several views.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the mechanism, including the inventionherein, showing a mounting thereof on a self-propelled vehicle;

Fig. 2 is a view from the opposite side of` the machine of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a view of the earth shifting element and its d drive, lookinginto the device from the right of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view on the line IV-IV, Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a view on the line V-V, Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a view on the line VI-VL Fig. 4.

The operating mechanism of the invention herein is normally mounted onthe rear of a truck chassis 10, preferably a so-called heavy-duty truck,that is one having a substantial tonnage rating.

The truck chassis 10 is fitted with an operators station 12 on the reardeck thereof, together with adjacent controls including a pedal 14 and asteering control 16, by which an operator may have complete control ofthe movements of the tractor 10, which herein, while the earth mechanismis in operation, is usually driven in reverse to the normal drivingdirection of the chassis 10 with the movements controlled by an operatorpositioned in station 12 manipulating the pedal 14 and the wheel 16.

A pair of spaced parallel vertical guides 1S, 20 are fixed to thetractor' chassis rear and provide a` slide-way 22 therebetween `foraccommodating frame 24. This frame 24 is a substantially boxconstruction, braced to ice form a rigid structure including a centerpiece 26 which mounts a horizontally positioned pintle or pin 28.

This pin 28 mounts bearings 30 carried by frame 32 for pivotallysupporting this pendulous frame 32 on the pin 28. The frame 32 includesa platform region 34 and a sub-frame structure 36 including a pair ofaligned bearings 3S, 40.

The platform 34 mounts an engine 42 together with cooperating partsincluding a controllable transmission 44 for driving shaft 46 havingsprocket 43 keyed thereon. This sprocket serves as a drive for chain 50to sprocket 52 fixed on shaft 54 mounted in the bearings 33, 40.

The size of the sprockets 48, 50 are selected to determine a speedreduction drive therebetween beyond the L controlled speed of shaft 46as selected. by operation of the transmission 44. Incidently, thecontrol for the transmission is located within reach of the operator instationV 12. This allows a complete one operator control of both thetractor and the earth shifting tool or screw 56.

The shaft 54 serves as an axle for the earth shifting tool 56 hereinshown as a helix or screw rotatable with the shaft 54 to serve as ascrew conveyor element to shift earth 5S laterally as into a trench 6l)from which the earth has previously been removed. This machine isextremely useful in farm areas which are being tiled. The trench 66 isdug by suitable trench digging equipment and the earth 58 piled alongand adjacent the rim of the trench. Tile is laid within the trench andthis machine then moves along and beside the trench line with the screwcontinuously back lling into the trench. Not only is the fill completebut all of the loose earth can be completely moved into the trench andthe surface graded or smoothed therealong.

With the frame 32 pivotally suspended from the pin 28,

l the screw 56 may be rocked in response to any overload,

thereby avoiding damage to the tool and defeating any slowing up of thetractors linear movement as well as defeating any tendency of the toolpushing the tractor laterally from its desired path or impartingundesirable stresses to the apparatus.

Additionally, the drive and transmission for the tool being mounted onthe rear of the tractor, adds sufficient weight to the tractor, so thatthe screw action will positively shift the earth rather than abut theearth and shift the tractor. The engine 42 thereby serves a dualpurpose, that of a drive and a ballast.

For stability, the frame 32 carries an extension 62 having an adjustablelink connection 64 with the frame to vary its lateral angular positionas to the frame. The extension 62 mounts a caster wheel 66 whichnormally rolls along the side of the trench being filled, opposite theside along which the tractor is moving. The caster wheel 66 stabilizesthe tool and if, in rolling over the terrain, contacts an obstruction,this caster will tilt the l tool accordingly.

Adjacent the tool end, remote from the caster 66, a ground engaging skidor shoe 63 slides along the snrface of the terrain. This shoe 68 ishingedly connected at one end on pivot 70 carried by a forwardlyprojecting arm 72 from the frame 32. The free end of the shoe may berestricted by a chain connection 74 between the shoe and arm 72.Intermediate the extent of the skid 68, frame work 76 extends upwardlyto provide an eye 78 for engaging link 80 extending between said frameworw 76 and one end of bell crank 82 pivotally mounted on the frame 32.The opposite end of this crank 82 is connected by a link 84 to arm 86fixed to a rotary member or valve 8S in valve housing 9i);

The link is adjustably attached to the frame work 76 which attachmentincludes an adjustable nut 92 thereon operable against spring 94 thus:providing a resilient connection between the elements 76 and 80.

As the shoe slides over the surface of the ground as carried by themachine, it will follow the contours of the terrain and rock on thepivot 70, and through linkage 80, 82, 84 and 86, operate the valve 88.This valve controls fluid flow from pump 96 driven by a suitableconnection 98from the motor 42. At one position of the valve, pressurefluid is passed by the valve from duct 100l to duct 102 to cylinder 104of a fluid motor and the piston therein vertically moves piston rod 106to lift cross bar .108 which is a part of the pintle carrying frame 24.The frame is lifted in the slide-way 22, in turn lifting the pintle, theframe 32 suspended therefrom and hence the tool 56. A reverse movementof the valve allows the cylinder 104 to drain to sump 110. An

adjustable relief Valve 112 and by-pass 113 in the hydraulic systemdetermines the rate of fluid flow limiting the movements of the elevatorfor the tool.

The mass of the frame 32, including its load, is cushioned on a springdevice 114 about post 116 mounted on the chassis 10. Y

It will be seen that the tool 56 will automatically lift and fall inresponse to the ground contour encountered by the shoe 68. This is aprotective feature and one which contributes to a constant filling speedof the device.

The elevator 24 is provided with a rub plate 116 sliding adjacent oragainst the forward faces of the slides 18, 20, limiting any canting ofthe elevator due to stresses on the machine and a stop 118 may beprovided as an elevator limiting device.

The supporting frame, the elevator frame and tool carrying frame may allbe fabricated for strength and Vproper Weight to insure a smoothoperation of the machine and providing a flexibility over variousterrains.

The automatic lift has additional linkage 120 from I'y the valveoperating arm 86 to lever 122 adjacent the operators station. Thispermits a manual control for the lift and fall of the tool 56.

It is obvious if the obstruction is met by the caster 66, the tool willbe lifted at that end and tilted as to the shoe 68 thereby operating thehydraulic control the same as if an obstruction were directly met by theshoe, so that only one shoe is necessary for full control over the areatraversed by the filling device.

lt is not intended to imply that the rise and fall of the screw isquickly responsive to every slight change in ground contour, nor thatevery clod of earth engaging either the shoe 68 or the wheel 66 willeffect a change in adjustment. The operation of the elevating mechanismis based on the average rise and fall of the earths surface over acomparatively large area. The combined weight of the the screw, theelevator, and the accompanying mechanism is considerable and theoperating valves are so adjusted that the flow of operating fluidtherethrough is restricted, so that an elevation or drop of the screw isslow in response to a shift in the shoe 68. However, if a high or lowstrip is encountered and the shoe 68 is held in a shifted position for alength of time, then the elevator operating mechanism will have time toadjust the screw to meet the general land contour without responding toshort impulses. It is to be understood that this machine is designed tobe used over rough terrain, and the screw operated to adjust itself tothe general surface of the terrain and does so effectively.

It is to be understood that the above detailed description of thepresent invention is intended to disclose an embodiment thereof to thoseskilled in the art, but that the invention is not to be construed aslimited in its application to the details of construction andarrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since theinvention is capable of being practiced and carried out in various wayswithout departing from the spirit of the invention. The language used inthe specification relating to the operation and function of the elementsof the invention is employed for purposes of description and not oflimitation, and it is not intended to limit the scope of the followingclaims beyond the requirements of the prior art.

What is claimed and desired to secure by United States Letters Patent:

l. in a back filling mechanism of the class described, a tractor havingelements for supporting and guiding the tractor for movement generallyparallel to the longitudinal axis of the tractor, a pair of verticalguides on said tractor spaced apart in a plane transverse to saidtractor longituinal axis, a frame mounted for vertically shiftingmovement in said vertical guides, a horizontal pintle carried by saidframe in a position generally paral lel and coaxial to the longitudinalaxis of said tractor, a support mounted upon said pintle for freepivotal movement about the axis of said pintle, a shaft xedly mountedupon said support generally parallel to the plane of said frame, aconveyor element mounted upon said shaft and operable when rotated toengage and shift material laterally and transversely of said frame,motor means carried by said support and connected to rotate saidconveyor, wheel means in general alignment with but spaced substantiallyoutboard of and beyond the end of said conveyor element toward which endsaid conveyor l is operable to shift material and engageable with thesame surface that supports said tractor to support the end of saidconveyor adjacent said wheel means and a spring carried by said tractorand constructedrand arranged to resiliently support a portion of theweight of said frame and support and mechanism on said support.

2. The device described in claim 1 wherein said wheel means is casteredabout a substantially vertical axis, an extension hingedly connected ata rst point to said support to mount said castered wheel means, and alink adjustable in length connecting said castered wheel means to asecond point on said support and vertically spaced from said firstpoint, whereby the horizontal axis of said wheel may be raised orlowered with respect to the shaft upon which the conveyor is mounted.

3. In the device described in claim 1 a ground engaging skid adjacentthe other end of the conveyor elementfrom said wheel means, said skidbeing pivoted upon said support and operable to slide over the surfaceof the ground adjacent said other endV of the conveyor element,

" a fluid motor operable to shift said frame vertically in l fective toraise or lower said frame and support with respect to said tractor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,532,723 Webb Apr. 7, 1925 1,567,495 Fahrney Dec. 29, 1925 1,574,230Brown Feb. 23, 1926 1,677,342 Hodgen 1 July 17, 1928 2,064,022 MaloonDec. 15, 1936 2,109,393 LeBleu Feb. 22, 1938 2,132,790 Jeswine Oct. 11,1938 2,402,976 Olson July 2, 1946 2,473,655 Lohn June 21, 1949 2,482,213Ritchie Sept. 20, 1949 2,514,764 Herigstad Julyy l1, 1950 2,527,840 MottOct. 3l, 1950 2,567,107 Gobeil Sept. 4, 1951 2,589,553 Kesselrin'g Mar.18, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 913,047 France May 20, 1946

